Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 113: To ask the Minister for Transport when he will bring forward legislation to reform the 1932 bus licensing law; the new measures the proposed new bus legislation will contain; the way he will reform the bus licensing system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5804/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Government has recently approved the General Scheme of the Public Transport Regulation Bill which contains proposals for a new bus licensing regime which will replace the Road Transport Act 1932 and the provisions of the Transport Act 1958 that relate to the provision of bus services by the State bus companies. In accordance with the Programme for Government commitment, the proposed licensing regime will provide a level playing field for all bus market participants. It will establish a clear structure against which applications for bus route licences will be considered as well as a modern system of penalties and associated powers for revocation of licences.

The General Scheme of the Bill also contains proposals for extending nationally the provisions of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 in relation to the provision of public service obligations; assigning responsibility to the DTA for bus licensing and public transport services contracts nationwide; the amalgamation of the Commission for Taxi Regulation into the DTA, and the renaming of the DTA as the National Transport Authority given its proposed national focus in relation to commercial bus licensing, future bus and rail subvention and the regulation of small public service vehicles.

In the light of the recent Government approval of the General Scheme of the Public Transport Regulation Bill, the Bill will now be drafted and published as soon as possible.